Walter Stollstorff of Chicago’s Manierre School

To truly appreciate this class photo from 1910 you have to see the back – with names carefully listed out by Edmund Lundgren. I’ve used the back as the main photo on this post. Today’s real highlight, however, will be Mr. Walter Stollstorff. Always start with the rare last name when you need a quick win. And during this hectic Thanksgiving week that’s just what I needed. Mr. Stollstorff delivered. He was very easy to find.

Walter C. was born June 21, 1896 to Frederick and Johanna/Hanna Stollstorff in Chicago. Fred was originally from Germany, Johanna from Illinois (although her name suggests her parents may have originally been from Germany as well). In 1900 and 1910 the family lived in Ward 22 of Chicago, right where we found the other Manierre boys. Walter had an older brother Frederick and younger sister Erma. In 1917, according to his WWI draft registration card, Walter worked at the Fred R. Jones Co. However, by the time of the WWII draft card, he was an assistant auditor at the YMCA of Chicago and married to Alita/Aleta. I don’t know if he had any children, but he barely looks like a child himself in this 15 year old picture – you can see the auditor that will someday be!

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12 thoughts on “Walter Stollstorff of Chicago’s Manierre School”

Walter is husband of my 1st cousin 3x removed, Aleta S. Young. Before your discovery, I had little other info on Walter, and only one hazy (mid-1960s) group photo of him with wife Aleta, her living siblings, and their spouses. Aleta was a very tall woman. Walter died in December 1967, and Aleta in April 1978. They had adopted a daughter, Darlene Aleta Stolstorff, born 18 August 1941, whose married name is Mattefs, and who I believe now lives with her son (Timothy) and his wife (Debra) in Howell, Michigan. Jodi, thanks so much for your efforts!

Hi again, quick point of correction for any fellow cousins and researchers… Timothy & Debra may be siblings, not spouses. Data is still rolling in. Also, Aleta appears to have died in January 1982. Walter & Aleta’s gravesites haven’t yet been located. Here’s another picture of Aleta:

Hello! I was pleasantly surprised to find this picture of a member of the Stollstorff branch that ended up in America. I’m a Stollstorff, but descended from a line that stayed in Germany (until 1968). I’ve been researching the family tree, and one of my main questions about the Stollstorff line is regarding this other branch of Stollstorffs who moved to the U.S. I’ve been trying to find out why they left Germany, and at what point our family tree is connected. That is, I’m trying to go back to find the common ancestor. My father, Peter Stollstorff, was surprised to discover that there were other Stollstorffs out there. His father, Hans Juergen Stollstorff, told him we were the only ones left! I hope this post will find someone from the “American/Chicago” Stollstorff branch so we can try to re-trace our steps.

Jodi: thank you for finding this photo and posting. It will be a distant relative, but still great to see.

My father graduated from Manierre in 1911. I don’t know much about the school, except that it was saved from closing last year by many people lobbying to keep it open. I know that it burned down sometime during the 30s and 40s but was rebuilt. It is part of the Chicago Public School system and you might be able to find more information about it thru them. Good luck!